Update from the Division – Issue 68

Warm Pacific Greetings from the SPTO Division of Sustainable Tourism (DST)!

As we approach the close of the year, we reflect on what has truly been a remarkable journey. October was a particular highlight, with the successful conclusion of the SPTO Tourism Forum in Vava’u, Kingdom of Tonga. This forum brought together tourism leaders from government, private sector, civil society, partners and youth to deliberate on key initiatives led by the DST, including:

• Pacific Tourism Waste Action Initiative (PTWAI) – Plastics Repurposing Workshop
• Sustainable Tourism Workshop for Tonga: Standards and Certification Programme for Phasing Out Single Use Plastics in the Pacific Tourism Industry & Agritourism
• Pacific Youth Forum on Sustainable Tourism (PYFST)
• Pacific Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit (PSTLS)
• Launch of the Pacific Sustainable Tourism Portal
• Launch of the Sustainable Tourism Enhancement in the Pacific (STEP): Integrating Circular Economy and Sustainable Consumption Practices — including the Regional Roadmap and National Pathways for Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu.

You’ll find more details on these initiatives in this issue, along with the latest sustainable tourism news and announcements. The events took place in conjunction with the SPTO Board of Directors Meeting and the Council of Tourism Ministers Meeting.

This year’s efforts concluded at the PSTLS, a fitting finale to an inspiring year. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors — PACER Plus, Fiji Airways, and Solomon Airlines — and to our gracious hosts, the Government and People of Tonga and Tonga Ministry of Tourism. Special thanks also go to our partners SPREP, New Zealand Māori Tourism, UN Tourism, FAO Mountain Partnership, and SWITCH Asia for their invaluable support.

We acknowledge the dedication of the Regional Working Group of the PYFST, whose active participation enriched the youth forum, and we commend the speakers, panelists, and moderators of the PSTLS for their outstanding contributions. The Summit was a resounding success, and we thank everyone who played a role in making it possible.

For more information on DST initiatives, please contact us at sustainable@spto.org.